When the Weather is Uggianaqtuq: Inuit Observations of Environmental Change

Data Contributors

BARRY, R. G.
FOX GEARHEARD, SHARI

Parameters

ARTHROPODS
FISH
GLACIERS
ICEBERGS
LAKE ICE
LEADS
RAIN
RIVER ICE
SEA ICE CONCENTRATION
SEA ICE MOTION
SNOW

Instruments

CAMERAS
VISUAL OBSERVATIONS

Uggianaqtuq (pronounced OOG-gi-a-nak-took) is a North Baffin Inuktitut word that means to behave unexpectedly, or in an unfamiliar way. From the perspective of many hunters and elders in the Arctic, the weather has been uggianaqtuq in recent years. In this interactive, multi-media CD-ROM, Inuit from two communties, Baker Lake (Qamani'tuaq) and Clyde River (Kangiktugaapik) in Nunavut, Canada, share their observations and perspectives on recent environmental changes. The CD-ROM is a pilot project that uses media technology as an alternative way (as opposed to written reports) to document and communicate Inuit observations and knowledge. Maps, text, photos, video and music are integrated to help illustrate the changes Inuit have observed in their environment and the impacts on their livelihoods. The integrated components allow the user to search by topic or person; view interview clips in Inuktitut with English interpretations; view and print maps about environmental changes drawn by participants; view short videos with scenes from the communities; view summaries and photos of environmental changes and their impacts to the landscape and community life. Topics include sea ice, snow, wind, weather variability, changes in seasons, changes in activities, animals, and more.

Please Note: This CD-ROM is Copyright Shari Fox, 2003 (the author). All rights reserved. This CD-ROM may not be copied or reproduced in part or in whole in any way without permission from the author. The CD-ROM is to be used for educational purposes only unless with written permission from the author.

The research project was funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), grant number OPP -9906740, a doctoral fellowship from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), and an award from the Innovative Research Program at the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), University of Colorado at Boulder (CU).

Data Citation

Fox, S. 2003. When the Weather is Uggianaqtuq: Inuit Observations of Environmental Change. Boulder, CO: University of Colorado Geography Department Cartography Lab. Distributed by National Snow and Ice Data Center. CD-ROM.